AI web builders showdown: Lovable vs Rocket AI

AI web builders promise to generate complete websites in minutes. We tested Lovable AI and Rocket AI (Pro versions) across dozens of scenarios to see which actually delivers.

Spoiler: Both do. But they're good at different things.

The test

We threw everything at both tools:

• Simple and complex Figma designs
• Various file types (PNG, SVG, PDF, text)
• Reference website URLs
• Production project requirements

Evaluation criteria: Speed, code quality, Figma integration, design accuracy, ease of use.

Lovable AI: the speed demon

What it's great at:

• Blazing fast: 25-40 seconds for most generations
• Figma integration: Paste a URL, watch it import perfectly
• File flexibility: Accepts almost anything—PDFs, SVGs, text files
• Visual iteration: Excels at design refinement and quick polish
• Zero learning curve: Intuitive interface, start immediately

Where it struggles:

• Mobile responsiveness has occasional alignment issues
• Less control over technical architecture
• Code quality is decent but not production-grade
• Minor visual inconsistencies need manual fixes

Best for: Rapid prototyping, client presentations, landing pages, visual design iteration.

Rocket AI: the code quality champion

What it's great at:

• Production-ready code: Clean, maintainable, semantically correct
• Technical depth: Strong component structure, proper state management
• Stack intelligence: Suggests optimal tech stack automatically
• Professional output: Business-grade designs, not just quick mockups
• Solid responsiveness: Mobile views work correctly

Where it struggles:

• Slower generation: 70+ seconds vs Lovable's 25-40
• Limited file support: Only JPG and PNG
• Rigid Figma import: Rejects complex designs with no override
• Less flexible for visual experimentation

Best for: Production websites, complex web apps, projects where code quality matters.

The comparison

Our recommendation: use both

After extensive testing, we discovered the winning strategy isn't choosing one—it's combining them.

The hybrid workflow

Step 1: Build with Rocket

• Generate core structure and functionality
• Get solid technical architecture
• Export code

Step 2: Polish with Lovable

• Import Rocket's output
• Fix layout and improve visual design
• Leverage superior Figma integration
• Iterate quickly on refinements

Step 3: Manual finishing

• Final touches in VS Code or Claude Code
• Custom functionality
• Performance optimization

Why this works: Best code structure (Rocket) + best visual quality (Lovable) + human expertise = superior output in less time.

Use cases

Quick prototype for client? → Lovable only

• Generate 3-4 variations in 5 minutes
• Instant iterations

Production website? → Rocket + Lovable hybrid

• Solid foundation from Rocket
• Visual polish from Lovable
• Manual customization

Marketing landing page? → Lovable only

• Fast visual iteration
• Easy Figma import
• Good enough code

Complex web app? → Rocket + heavy manual work

• Professional architecture
• Extensive custom development

Key lessons

1. No perfect tool exists: Each excels at different things
2. Input quality matters: Clean Figma files = better output
3. AI generates drafts: Expect to refine, not deploy directly
4. Hybrid workflows win: Combine tools strategically
5. Speed vs quality: Know which matters for your project

The bottom line

Both tools are genuinely useful, not hype. We use both regularly at Orbios.

Choose Lovable when: Speed is critical, you're prototyping, visual iteration matters.

Choose Rocket when: Code quality is paramount, you're building production apps, you need proper architecture.

Use both when: You're building serious products and want maximum quality.

The productivity gains are real. These tools don't replace developers—they multiply our effectiveness.

The future of web development isn't humans OR AI. It's humans WITH AI, each doing what they do best.

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Want to see how AI tools can accelerate your development? Contact us.